As they say, “a week is a long time in politics”. A week ago, I was reminding everyone:
Please don’t forget:
Pride of Workmanship Awards. I trust that we will have a good roll-up.
Rambles Sunday 22nd March
District Conference at Tenterfield 27-29th March
The board of the Club today Monday 16th March has made a decision that “all meetings and activities including work at the Project Shed should be cancelled immediately”due to theCORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) and the recent recommendations of the government and independent medical advice. The board will review the position in 28 days. In the meantime, we can have telephone conference meeting. We will organise this in the next few days so that we all stay in contact.
Therefore, it is unfortunate that the Pride of Workmanship Awards Dinner on this Wednesday night is cancelled. We anticipate that everyone who has paid will receive a refund. We will endeavour to make a time when things go back to normal so that we can present the awards to the recipients.
With regard to the Project Shed we will contact each of the workers at the shed and explain to them the circumstances. The directors believe that it is in the best interests of each and every worker (volunteer) at the shed that all activities be stopped immediately in the best interest of all concerned. This will be reviewed in 28 days…mid to late April.
As you are all aware the District Conference in Tenterfield has been cancelled. By know you should have received a letter from the District Governor Harry Bolton. He explained his disappointment.
Rotary in Paramatta has advised today:
Dear Club Officers,
Please be advised that effective today, 16th March 2020, this office will be operating under an alternative setup both to ensure the well-being and safety of our staff as well as to lead the community to make an effort to flatten the curve and allow our health systems to cope with the surge of confirmed cases of COVID19 in our communities.
Regarding the Mauna Hospital, Pentecost Island, Vanuatu Project we are anticipating that the majority of the material will be delivered this week. The manufacturing & construction of the building is also on hold until it becomes clear that it is safe to go back to work and that working on the project does not put anyone at risk.
Sorry for the bad news. The health and safety of our members is our top priority, and we have an obligation to provide a safe environment whilst conducting Rotary activities. I trust you all understand the position at this time.
As outlined by President Mario Fairlie in his message, the club's board has decided to suspend all club activities, including the activities at the Project Shed, for 28 days due to COVID-19. This is the resolution:
Motion to suspend Club activities because of the COVID-19 virus pandemic Resolved that: Effective immediately the Club suspend for a period of 28 days all activities including but not limited to: a. the Project Shed; b. formal Club meetings; c. the Excellence in Workmanship Awards ceremony; d. the Gold Coast Ramble 2020.
Explanatory Note Because of the uncertainty surrounding the spread of the COVID-19 virus, government recommendations regarding social isolation to assist in limiting its spread and the fact many of the Club’s members and Shed volunteers fall within the cohort of those most at risk in the event of infection, the Board believes that in discharge of the duty of care owed to members and volunteers that Club activities should be suspended for 28 days.
We regret to advise that, due to the declared Covid-19 pandemic, the board has decided to cancel this year's Excellence in Workmanship Award dinner. The event will be re-staged once the situation has normalised again.
District Governor Harry Bolton and his committee have advised that this year's District Conference in Tenterfield had to be cancelled. In his message to all members, DG Harry explained the principal reasons for making this difficult decision. Here are the most important ones:
Tenterfield is a reasonably small town with a population of less than 4000 people, with a high % of people in the High-risk category (70 years plus)
The town is only equipped with an 18-bed hospital with minimal services and facilities
The Tenterfield Rotary Club have 3 members who are integral staff members (nursing staff) of these facilities
Rotary is an advocate for disease control and eradication and must take the high moral ground on this issue
Most importantly – Tenterfield may be able to contain or deal with this virus if it doesn’t hit us hard, in other words - moves through the community slowly. By introducing the possibility of accelerating the spread of this virus throughout our community would have a disastrous effect on the community
Finally, and most importantly, I have a duty of care to my fellow Rotarians (many who are in the high-risk category) attending this conference and to the community of Tenterfield.
The committee is currently working on organising to refund monies pre-paid to registrants. As an alternative, a donation to Shauna Bolton's "DG Partner's Project", the Malaria Vaccination Project of Griffith University, of which Rotary is a major partner. Stay tuned!
Do you know any suitable candidates to participate in this year's RYPEN camp? The Rotary Youth Program for Enrichment is is a weekend residential experience for youth aged 14-16 years designed to develop skills that will assist them in the transition to adulthood. Participants are involved in a variety of workshops and activities, which provide an opportunity for them to personally develop, gain self confidence, communication skills, challenge themselves, build friendships, and develop life skills. Subject to restrictions relating to COVID-19 have been lifted by then, it will held from 15 - 17th May 2020 at Bornhoffen (near Natural Bridge, Numinbah Valley). Contact Youth Service Director Darrell Brown.
[Yes! Darrell is very hopeful that the situation will have normalised by May. So, keep a look out! Ed.]
In view of all club activities being suspended for the next 28 days, there is no need to publish a Duty Roster for the time being... Watch this space as the situation is reviewed in 4 weeks' time!
Whenever you think people as animals, you get a little smarter. And whenever you think of animals being like people, as creatures that reason and react as we do, you get a little dumber. Thomas Gilovich, ‘The Wisest Man in the Room’
I went into to a pharmacy and asked "What I can do to protect against Corona Virus?"
He replied "Amonia Cleaner".
"Oh, sorry, I thought you worked here..."
The human capacity for burden is like bamboo – far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance. Jody Picoult, My Sister’s Keeper.
During his physical examination, a doctor asked a man about his physical activity level. He described a typical day this way:
"Well, yesterday afternoon, I took a five hour walk about 7 Km through some pretty rough terrain. I waded along the edge of a lake. I pushed my way through bush. I got sand in my shoes and my eyes. I avoided standing on a snake. I climbed several rocky hills. I took a few 'leaks' behind some big trees - (ahhh, what a relief). The mental stress of it all left me shattered. At the end of it all I drank eight beers."
Inspired by the story, the doctor said, "You must be one hell of an outdoors man!"
We regret to advise that, due to the declared Covid-19 pandemic, the board has decided to cancel this year's Excellence in Workmanship Award dinner. The event will be re-staged once the situation has normalised again.
